Substantial gap in primary care: older adults with HIV presenting late to care

• Main Authors: Faiza Yasin, Christina Rizk, Bennie Taylor, Lydia A. Barakat
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2020-10-01
• Series: BMC Geriatrics
• Subjects: Aging population; Older adults; HIV; Risk; Testing; Stigma
• Online Access: http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12877-020-01842-y

Abstract Background Late diagnosis of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is associated with increased morbidity and mortality, and represents a serious public health concern. Methods A retrospective medical record review was conducted on 188 patients with newly diagnosed HIV at a large academic center’s HIV clinic from 1/2010 to 12/2019. Patient demographic data, HIV staging, and response to combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) as measured by HIV viral suppression at 12 weeks (HIV RNA < 50 copies) were collected. Bivariate analyses were applied to compare patients ≥50 years old to those < 50 years old. Results Over two-thirds of the older patients with a new diagnosis of HIV presented with a CD4 count < 200, or an AIDS-defining illness. Though not statistically significant, this same group also had a delay to viral suppression with only 59% achieving viral suppression after 12-weeks of cART initiation. Conclusions This study suggests that older patients are presenting to care with advanced stages of HIV, and may also have a delay in achieving viral suppression after cART initiation. Future studies should aim to target HIV testing and treatment strategies for this at-risk older adult group.